Taylor Swift's new album is called Red, but its true colour is a brilliant platinum.

The 22-year-old sold 1.2 million copies of her latest album in its first week - the largest sales week for any album in a decade, Nielsen SoundScan confirmed

Red marks Taylor's second straight album to sell more than one million copies in its first week; Speak Now, her third album, sold a little over one million copies when it was released in 2010. She is the only woman to have two albums sell more than one million copies in its first week.

"They just told me Red sold 1.2 million albums first week. How is this real life?! You are UNREAL. I love you so much. Thanks a million ;)," Taylor tweeted.

The only other act to sell more than one million copies of an album in its debut week twice was 'N Sync.

The last album to sell more than one million copies in its debut week was Lady Gaga's Born This Way, which sold 1.1 million copies last year. However, that album was deeply discounted on Amazon.com in its first week.